Barangay Night in Manaoag

By Jun Velasco

THURSDAY evening we had a taste of Manaoag’s hospitality through its local officials and the association of barangay captains (ABC) when we joined Speaker Jose de Venecia’s entourage in   the town’s barangay night.

A culinary feast at the five-star police station hosted by Mayor Nap Sales and Vice Mayor Kim Amador preceded a program at the well-lighted plaza where  ABC president Willy Sibayan held sway. The atmosphere immediately gave a sense of a baile sprinkled with you-know-what-to-expect rabble-rousing (pambarangay talaga) speeches.

The kapitan assigned to introduce the “next prime minister” overdid himself when he read the Speaker’s kilometric achievements with the global titles and strange-sounding positions that slurred the introducer’s native diction.

Reading the Speaker’s long  list of achievements was  even  preceded by another kilometric  acknowledgment of  several  guests, mostly local VIPS, and  by now you already have an idea of how  you should summon “creative patience,” Mam Gina’s favorite expression,  to be able to smile and  enjoy the evening.

Fun though to see, hear and watch Caranto Orchestra, a sight to  behold (ask Kuya Rudy Ramos why) and its music tickling Directors Fidel Ginez’s and Pepe Siapno’s  feet and springing to graceful action.

As usual, the Speaker did an impassioned speech with a global reach it is to be hoped the audience grasped it. The speech said a lot and bannered Malacañang and congressional releases – millions in infra projects, new roads, bridges, buildings – which impressed the apolitical in the audience that many good things after all could be done if our leaders would only work hard to do so.

Fantastic to watch JDV do a cha – cha — the dance, not politics, stupid! – and  yes, a boogie woogie with Janet Yaari, the owner of   Star of  David, the hotel  near  Jocelyn “Joy”  dela Cruz’s   Sapang’s  home. They were joined on the dance floor by Board Members John John Rosario, Manuel Ancheta and Amadeo Espino III.

 Aha (irereport ko ito kay Mam Irene)! Mayor Jaming Libunao, our ex-governor in Rotary District 3780, was handsomely tripping the light  fantastic  with  Star of  David’s super pretty  DI’s ; ditto with Mayor Rudy Columbres, although the missus’ dagger looks  kept him at bay, and the  slightly reserved Mayor Hermie Romero (his Gloria Romero was at home in their Mangaldan abode) .

Dagupan Councilors Michael Fernandez, Jojo Guadiz and  Alex de Venecia were busy swapping ideas on who among them should be  Vice Mayor Alvin Fernandez’ running-mate in  a  2007 election. Will there be elections? If you read the signs of the times, you know thatthere is none.

What makes a town so rich in spirituality “homely” is that even in public, Fundador and pulutan could be served without losing one’s social grace. Former Vice Mayor Ramon Bautista, former Councilor Terry Sison, Barangay Captain Ped Gonzales and JDV’s public works adviser Nelson Sotto simply enjoyed Pedro Domec’s pride and the crispy shrimp and peanuts.

Refreshing night, but El Niño’s scorching wave prodded us to the shower pronto reaching home shortly before midnight.

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Did you know that the Holy Mother’s first apparition happened in Manaoag, much ahead of Fatima in Portugal, Lourdes of France and Guadalupe of Mexico? Speaker Joe said so in his speech, which should humble us, Filipinos.

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We had the privilege to chat with two successful but self-effacing national leaders, former Chief Justice Hilario Davide and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Miguel Varela.

 Larry Davide was elected supreme commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal. His election strategists including this humble KoR commander of Quezon City floated his humility and wisdom for all his years in public service. He was relaxed and showed an easy-does-it persona….

In our intro of PCCI chairman Mike Varela as guest of honor of the Rotary District Assembly chaired by Rotarian Art Lomibao at the Valle Verde Country Club, we said great men or the highest achievers in a lifetime are among the most humble in a community.

Before introducing him, we joined a lunch meeting with the Manila Bulletin’s moguls including its president Mike Varela and chairman Emilio Yap without anyone knowing that we were busy scanning Mike’s qualities as a man and as a multi-awarded corporate leader.

Well, no less than Jesus Christ has this to say, “the greatest leader is the greatest servant of all.”

      It’s not the man seeking the position, but the position seeking the man.

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